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Do you feel your little pet attacking you? If your cat bites and scratches you constantly or if it jumps at you unexpectedly, don't be scared because in this article by Animal Expert we'll explain everything you need to know.
Below you will find solutions to prevent the your cat bite and scratch, in addition we will explain to you the possible causes of this feline behavior. Remember that before judging your partner, you should try to understand the reason for their aggression, as sometimes the cause is in ourselves without us knowing it.
Cats express their feelings in many ways and sometimes what we think might be a aggressive or inappropriate attitude it can be the visible face of other problems. Regardless, if your cat doesn't stop biting and scratching, we'll help you solve that problem.
It is important to prevent
Before explaining the possible reasons and some solutions for your cat not to attack you, we believe that it is important to address the issue of prevention. If your cat lunges at you to bite or scratch, there are a few things you can do to avoid unpleasant consequences:
- The nails: go watching your pet's nails and keep them short, so that if there is an attack you won't be able to hurt him. Remember that cats file their nails naturally, but you can cut them anyway. Learn tips and tricks in our article that explains how to cut a cat's nails.
- don't bother him: There are things we know cats don't like to be done to them, so don't bother them. We talk about, for example, stroking their hind legs and scaring them. If you know your pet well, avoid doing things that you know will alter it or that you know will generate an aggressive reaction.
- divert your attention: cats use body language constantly and there are very obvious signs that your pet is in an attack position. If you see that your ears are back and your pupils are dilated, you're no doubt letting him know you're ready for action, so the best you can do is shift your attention right away. The idea is not to scold him but to avoid the attack. Other signs are forceful tail movement or specific meows.
Why does your cat bite and scratch you
The causes of behavior that can be considered aggressive in our felines can be many. Each case has different situations, but let's try to generalize to help you understand why does your cat bite and scratch you.
- playful cats
If you have a small cat, you should know that kittens do not know how to control their strength. Probably the behavior you consider aggressive, it's just the fact that your pet doesn't know the limits when playing, so to help him avoid teaching him that his hands are prey.
Likewise, if your cat is an adult but hasn't spent time with its mother and siblings, it may not have learned the lesson of limits. In this case it is not an attack, but that your pet does not know how to measure and instead of showing affection it ends up hurting you.
- stressed cats
A stressed or anxious cat is an animal prone to attack. In these cases it is important to identify the causes, it may be that the animal feels closed or insecure due to a change of environment. Cats are delicate, methodical animals, they like routine, so any change in their territory can generate a stressful situation that can trigger aggressive behavior.
- sick cats
Illness or bodily discomfort is also a common cause for cats to bite or scratch their owners. When a cat is unwell or suffering from some discomfort, it is more prone to aggression, remember that it is defensive and its instinct tells it that to protect itself it must attack.
If you notice that your cat's aggressive behavior is related to visible symptoms of illness, such as weight loss or appetite loss, there may be a more serious health problem.
What to do?
If your cat does not stop biting and scratching and has already evaluated the possible causes of this behavior that can be aggressive, the next step is to decide what to do. Depending on the causes, there are several solutions for this problem, so give your feline friend a chance and try to put these actions into practice:
- set the limits: Teach your cat that you are not prey. Provide the animal with a good scraper and have fun with it playing with different toys that capture its attention. If you want, you can make your own homemade cat scratcher or consult the best cat toys.
- correct when necessary: If your cat bites or scratches you, react calmly, remember that chasing or screaming will frighten and confuse you. The most appropriate reactions are to end the situation, not giving him any prizes or food after you've bitten him, not petting him immediately afterward, or positively reinforcing biting and scratching his toys. You can also say "Not steady" when he is biting or scratching you. You can find more tips in our article How to scold a cat.
- Consult the veterinarian: As we've already explained, aggressive behavior can be the symptom of a more complicated situation. If this is the case, it is important to consult the doctor, who can help your pet feel good and will give you advice so that your quality of life is the best possible.
- let him live: Sometimes the best solution to prevent a cat from biting and scratching is to let the animal calm down. Cats are solitary creatures and quite independent, their ways of showing affection are quite different from ours. So if he bites you, it could be because you did something to him that you don't like, like hugging him too much, for example.
Latest advice
Remember that cats are different pets of the rest, felines are solitary and express their affection for you in a different way than a dog. So, before thinking that your cat has a behavior problem or that it is an aggressive animal, study its behavior a little and make sure you find the reasons for this attitude.